Five Most Bust Likely NBA Draft Prospects

Zach LaVine — UCLA Bruins

Mar 27, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Zach LaVine (14) lays the ball up past Florida Gators forward Casey Prather (24) during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum. NBA Draft Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Zach LaVine is everyone’s favorite athletic freak. That is it, however. LaVine’s only known proven commodities are being able to jump over humans and hit three-pointers on a decent rate (37.5). Apparently, because upside, that is enough for NBA teams to go bonkers over the idea of what LaVine can be, though.

For what it is worth, LaVine is a player that is very raw, which means coaches will have a blank canvass to work with. So, really, a team would be banking on LaVine’s work ethic. Still, even if LaVine works harder than James “Logan” Howlett trying to figure out his origins, it doesn’t actually mean he is going to get better in the areas he lacks skills. If it was just that easy to want to be good at something by wanting it, I would be a Ghostbuster by now.

There are a few controllable aspects to his game that could keep him in the league after his rookie deal. Since he is so athletic, if LaVine makes a conscious effort to play defense, between that and his ability to hit a few threes and jump over a lot of phone books, that alone could keep him in the league.